Every year when the 40-man All-Australian squad is announced, there's often more talk about who wasn't included rather than who was.
With so much class in the league, it's inevitable that some premium talent doesn't make the final cut.
But for die-hard supporters, football connoisseurs and genuine nuffies, there's just zero excuse for not including a (subjective) champion player in the prestigious squad.
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It was tricky cutting this list down to 10 players (and has given a taste into how difficult the selectors' job is!), so make sure to have your say!
JACK CRISP
When the Magpies hit a rough patch at the midpoint of the season, Jack Crisp was a major influence in steadying the ship.
Consistency has been the motto the rebounding defender has lived by during his time in the black-and-white stripes, with his consecutive games streak now at 120 games.
A five-year deal signed earlier in the season has been indicative of his performance to the Magpie army.
Often the man to guide his side out of danger, Crisp has also shown his nous delivering the ball into attack, which has been coupled with impressive dashes off the half-back line.
The No. 25 currently leads his side for effective kicks (223) and rounds out the top-three for disposals (576) and marks (134).
He's the connective tissue of the Magpies and one that is criminally underrated, but a huge September campaign may just change that.
ROWAN MARSHALL
It was an up-and-down season for the Saints, but Rowan Marshall was a constant positive for the red, white and black.
After spending his past two seasons primarily as a fourth tall forward last season, intensive craft training in the pre-season saw the 23-year-old assume St Kilda's ruck duties.
Remarkably, Marshall wasn't selected for Round 1, but since then has been the Saints' most consistent and best-performing player.
The No. 19 finished the season leading his side for contested possessions (227), hit-outs (569) and averaging an impressive 18 disposals per game; his skill at ground-level and in the air offering great mobility to St Kilda's on-ball brigade.
It's hard to surpass Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn for All-Australian status, particularly given their sheer dominance and accumulation of hit-outs.
But in the age of mobile ruckmen, the Portland product is on the right path to becoming the next Grundy.
While his nickname of 'The Prospect' is a reference to Grand Theft Auto, there may be a different meaning to it should his stellar form carry into 2020.
ZACH MERRETT
'Indifferent' may be a suitable word to summarise Essendon's season - despite a top-eight finish - but Zach Merrett was proficient in every sense of the word.
It was a completely different story in Round 1, with his highly-criticised performance in the Bombers' 72-point annihilation at the hands of GWS threatening to undo a promising pre-season outlook.
But that has since been forgotten following his impressive 2019, which has seen him lead his side in countless areas.
In the absences of Dyson Heppell and Devon Smith, among others, the Sandringham Dragons talent topped the Bombers for disposals (627), inside 50s (106), metres gained (9165), contested possessions (239), score involvements (128) and tackles (117).
It's an incredible year and almost one that's been a one-man show, with his unyielding output since Round 1 a critical component in Essendon's late finals berth.
If an All-Australian nomination doesn't atone for his terrific season, perhaps a long-awaited finals victory will.
TIM TARANTO
It's hard to believe he's just 21 years old, but Tim Taranto has all the makings of a powerhouse of the competition.
Unfortunately, it wasn't recognised with All-Australian selection, yet his season was undoubtedly one which should be applauded.
In a midfield which missed Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio (also arguably stiff), Callan Ward, Toby Greene and Matt de Boer throughout the season, Taranto thrived as he carried the extra weight.
The backbone of his game has clearly been his tackling and pressure acts, with the St Kevins' recruit amassing 142 tackles for the year to place fourth in the league.
His bullish tack was perfectly balanced out by his accumulation of footy - for which he led his side's disposal count by over 100 - with a 36-disposal haul against Richmond the cream of the crop.
Able to cover the entirety of the ground thanks to his electric pace, the young Giant is destined for even greater things in the not-too-distant future.
JAKE LLOYD
When you place fourth in the league for total disposals, you'd rightly be a little bit startled to not make the cut for the All-Australian squad.
With that, Jake Lloyd has every right to feel a bit miffed, particularly in light of his career-best season at the Swans.
The moustached marvel operated at 82 per cent disposal efficiency across his 667 possessions, finding himself on top of the league's metres gained statistic (11713) and just behind for rebound-50s (158) and effective kicks (325).
Silky on his right boot and every bit measured while on the run, there's no question Lloyd was unlucky to not even make the squad.
Fellow defender Dane Rampe was the only Swan to be nominated, but the No. 44 would make a compelling case to oust his teammate for All-Australian selection.
TOM LYNCH
It took a while for the wheels to get moving, but when they did, Tom Lynch got himself and the Tiger Train at full steam.
The former Gold Coast co-captain booted 54 goals in his first season as a Tiger, with the star forward only held goalless twice this season.
Lynch's forward chemistry with Jack Riewoldt has been sublime towards the back half of the season, but his work as Richmond's sole key forward was integral to his development.
Notching up a league-high 47 contested marks, 66 marks inside-50 and placing among the best for score involvements (138), Lynch's strong marking served as the hallmark of his game as the Tigers roared into the top-four.
Hard to grapple when he gets on the move, the forward powerhouse draws plenty of attention, but not enough to squeeze into the All-Australian squad.
Lynch was named in the 2016 All-Australian side, but this year's nomination would have capped off an impressive debut season at Punt Road.
Well, a premiership might just be on the cards.
JACK STEELE
The Man of Steele seemed to have no kryptonite through the season, but was snubbed of his first All-Australian nomination.
Jack Steele topped the league for tackles (164) to pull ahead of Elliot Yeo by three, with the former playing one less game than the Eagles' midfield ace.
The No. 9's game evolved again this season as he was given greater responsibility in the centre, with his two-way running, crunching tackles and impressive tagging abilities at the fore week after week.
Incredibly, Steele registered the most tackles in a match 12 times across his 20 outings, with an 18-tackle performance against North Melbourne his most dominant showing.
Rarely having his colours lowered, the Canberra local was likely excluded for his lower disposal count and lack of scoreboard penetration compared to this year's nominees.
There's no doubt that the tackling machine will be poised for an even bigger season in 2020.
JOEL HAMLING
It's often the high-disposal or intercepting backmen which get the nod for All-Australian, but Joel Hamling is the classic case of a good old-fashioned lockdown defender.
The Fremantle stalwart played every game this season, holding firm in a backline absent of Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan.
Incredibly versatile given his 194cm frame, his aerial prowess and athleticism has enabled him to compete with the game's most dangerous forwards.
His thumping right fist is often the burden of many key goalkickers, with Hamling second in the league for spoils (177) and one-percenters (186).
One-on-one is definitely the big man's forte, with his 92 contested battles resulting in just the 23 defeats.
Hamling's cleanliness (83 per cent disposal efficiency) is among the best in the league, yet Claremont product remains grossly underrated in an era where the intercepting defender takes pride and place.
SAM WALSH
It's one of the best debut seasons of recent memory, and one which will undoubtedly be awarded with the NAB Rising Star Award.
But an All-Australian nomination would have topped off Sam Walsh's sterling year.
A ready-made player and showing composure and class well beyond his years, the pick No. 1 in last year's draft became such a vital asset to the Blues' midfield, placing in the top-five for disposals (554), contested possessions (212) and clearances (71).
Racking up the most disposals by a first-year player since Toby Greene, Walsh's blend of outside run, contested flair and timelessness around the stoppages has him firming as one of the game's greats in the years to come.
The 19-year-old was one of three 'Baggers to play every game in 2019, and four times surpassed the 30-disposal mark.
We're all hoping the second-year blues doesn't strike Walsh down, because there's a great deal of excitement on the horizon.
DANIEL RICH
While is output and commitment was never thrown into question, many had Daniel Rich to enter his decline following a quieter 2018.
But the veteran defender dismissed such sentiment, becoming Brisbane's most thrifty backman alongside seasoned campaigner Luke Hodge.
The 29-year-old has thrived off the half-back line, leading the way for rebound-50s (145), metres gained (11656) and disposals (498).
While the likes of Lachie Neale and Dayne Zorko are attributed to Brisbane's rapid rise up the ladder, Rich's wisdom and penetrating left-boot have just been vital in the surge.
This season has seen the 2009 Rising Star enjoy a career-best season in every way, both on the stats sheet and in on-field success.
Off the back of his stunning season, Rich may have just provided the new definition for the term 'evergreen'.
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